"On Royalty" by Jeremy Paxman, is a satirical and funny book on royalty. Having just read a few chapters yet, I look farward to read more. And when I have done that, I'll come back and write some more...

It is sort of a "recipe" book on how to become royal, dos and don'ts and real life examples.

Some of the chapters;
1. First, find a throne.
2. Next, produce an heir.
3. Learning to be regal.
4. Now find a consort.

I wonder if this book is curriculum at the princess school If not perhaps it should...

Everytime I'm in the bookstore, I always look for royalty or fictional royalty books. I haven't seen this book. Was this book set in the modern-day royalty?

I found it in the Library in 2007. It is set in Modern-day Time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by colynsmomma

What is the story about. I have not read it.

In a novel where ancient traditions conflict with reality and the pressures of modern life, a young European princess proves that simplicity, courage, and dignity win the day and forever alter her world.

In blue jeans and a pullover, Princess Christianna is a young woman of her times: born in Europe, educated in America, worried about the future of the world she lives in, responsible beyond her years. Christianna is the only daughter of the Reigning Prince of a European nation that takes its royalty seriously - and her father has ironclad plans for Christianna's life, a burden that is almost unbearable.

Now, after four years at Berkeley, life in her father's palace cannot distract Christianna from what she sees outside the kingdom - the suffering of children, the ravages of terrorism and disease. Determined to make a difference in the world, she persuades His Royal Highness, her father, to let her volunteer for the Red Cross in East Africa. And for Christianna, a journey of discovery, change, and awakening begins.

Under a searing East African sun, Christianna plunges into the dusty, bustling life of an international relief camp, finding a passion and a calling among the brave doctors and volunteers. Finally free from the scrutiny of her royal life, Christianna struggles to keep her identity a secret from her new friends and coworkers - even from Parker Williams, the young doctor from Doctors Without Borders who works alongside Christianna and shares her dedication to healing. But as violence approaches and invades the camp, and the pressures of her royal life beckon her home, Christianna's struggle for freedom takes an extraordinary turn. By a simple twist of fate, in one shocking moment, Christianna's life is changed forever - in ways she never could have foreseen.

From the splendor of a prince's palace to the chaos of war-torn nations, Danielle Steel takes us into fascinating new worlds. Filled with unforgettable images and a remarkable cast of characters, H.R.H. is a novel of the conflict between old and new worlds, responsibility versus freedom, and duty versus love.

Former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing has written a novel about a passionate affair between two characters based on him and Princess Diana. The extraordinary book has caused a sensation in France, with many believing that the 83-year-old really was one of Diana’s lovers.

"I kissed her hand and she gave me a questioning look, her slate-grey eyes widening as she tilted her head gently forward."
"I stood up and pushed back my chair to allow the Princess of Cardiff to sit down. She thanked me with one of those oblique looks that revealed all her charm.

To be published next month, Giscard's "The Princess and the President" recounts the secret and passionate love of a French leader and a Welsh Princess.
President Jacques-Henri Lambertye and Princess Patricia of Cardiff meet at the closing dinner of a G7 summit at a time when the young British royal has been left miserable by her husband's adultery.

I can't imagine that if Diana and the French president had been having an affair that some servant wouldn't have spilled the beans. If it had happened during Burrell or Ken Wharfe's times, we already would have known.

I read about this novel coming out. "La princesse et le president; President Jacques-Henri Lambertye and Princess Patricia of Cardiff..."
First of all it's a novel, it's fiction, so the author can write whatever he/she wants.
I agree that VGE and Diana as an item is highly improbable.

It is amazing to me that everybody assumes the author meant Diana. Too easy, too obvious!
I think we need to look further: How about Giscard and Princess Margaret? Think about it: In the days Giscard was president- 1974-1981, P. Margaret was just separated-divorced and yes, very unhappy.
Now THAT has potential doesn't it!

Location: Between the first and second floor of the Eiffel Tower, France

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Quote:

Originally Posted by altagrace

I read about this novel coming out. "La princesse et le president; President Jacques-Henri Lambertye and Princess Patricia of Cardiff..."
First of all it's a novel, it's fiction, so the author can write whatever he/she wants.
I agree that VGE and Diana as an item is highly improbable.

It is amazing to me that everybody assumes the author meant Diana. Too easy, too obvious!
I think we need to look further: How about Giscard and Princess Margaret? Think about it: In the days Giscard was president- 1974-1981, P. Margaret was just separated-divorced and yes, very unhappy.
Now THAT has potential doesn't it!

Just speculating! and smiling!!

That would make a great story indeed!

I totally agree on the speculative part - there's absolutely no genuine proof we can rely on to affirm that these two people are without a doubt VGE and Diana.

However, I think the author had a wonderful time concocting this little fiction, slipping in details and allusions.
President Jacques-Henri Lambertye: composed name, just like VGE and we didn't have many president with long names.

Princess Patricia of Cardiff: Now, this one is quite obvious I believe. "Patricia" is a name with "a" and "i", just like in Diana. The fact he chose the title of "Princess" rather than Duchess or Countess and even more evidently, he took the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales… (of all places!)
Finally, she's being nicknamed 'Pat' on various occasions in the book… Wonder if it has anything to do with people calling Diana, 'Princess Di', especially in France.

Now I'm really trying to think "coincidence" here!

I guess VGE was bored of only existing in the mind of people like a President who did quite a few wrong things during his term and who's now at the Constitutional Council, deciding on issues that the average French doesn't even care about… He just wants his little fame shot.

Well not a big surprise! I'm not sure it's particulary tastefull from a former head of state to first fantasize like this about a woman dead 12 years ago and second to play with the memory of Diana,a very sensitive point as we all know. The whole story is just gross.

I believe it's obvious he invented it - Diana was cured of going out with older men after her rather erratic relationship with Charles.
In 1984, during the first problems in the royal couple, VGE was already 58 *gasps!*

It's however very possible that the two shared long conversations and got along well. I would tend to look more into a genuine fatherly concern than any lovestory.